Category Archives: Features

Isla Mujeres is known as the Island of Women, so of course in October when my friend asked if I wanted to go I said, “OK!” Really what lesbian does not want to go to an island of women? There had to be lesbians there right?

The beauty of Isla Mujeres, a 15 minute ferry across Bahia Mujeres (Bay of Women) from Cancun, was discovered while vacationing at the Maria Del Mar hotel at Playa Norte. The pristine turquoise blue waters lined with soft white sand and palm trees greet you early in the morning with an inviting warmth (no thats not the humidity). I immediately started thinking this would make a terrific place to have as a home base while exploring the Caribbean and Central America.

Immediately I began the process of seeking out how to find and rent a place for less then $500 USD a month. Of course being a tourist location there were tonnes of places for rent by the night. No Thank you! I wanted to cook my own food, experience the local energy and just live day to day. It seemed like the only solution would be to wait until low season.

Everyone has heard the theory. Manifest or channel the things you desire and inevitably they will come into your life. This would be a prime example. A travel buddy of mine was visiting Isla Mujeres again in December and happened upon a place My travel buddy and I both decided we wanted a place and the very next time she visited, behold, she met a dude who had a place and BAM, we rented a 2 bedroom apartment in the La Gloria district. A great little room with a shared kitchen and a rooftop patio.

So as I begin 2016, the adventure begins to unfold into a real plan in action. A dream to travel the world beginning with setting up home base in Mexico. A Lesbian in Isla Mujeres, living day to day. By the end of 2016, Let’s see where this new adventure will have taken me.

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Bucket List:Whale Shark Adventure

Location: Isla Mujeres, Cancun Mexico

Queer Rating: Friendly

Beach: Snorkel a small reef on Playa Norte Isla Mujeres and eat ceviche after

As a profound ocean enthusiast it has long been a dream of mine to swim with a shark in their natural habitat. Of course the whale shark is the most docile of all shark species, it is none the less exhilarating. Imagine you are in the water, mere feet from a fish that is at least the size of a school bus swimming along collecting the most microscopic of plankton and krill. Just WOW!

Sam on the Aron

The day started out with the captain picking us up at the house on Isla Mujeres. We were heading to get on board the Aron to meet up with some other folks also joining us. Then it was 20km out into open ocean where the whale sharks were feeding on an abundance of plankton. This feeding happens yearly between May and September.

Please note:While this is a tourist activity much like heading to Akumal, there are plenty of rules and regulations to foll

Whale Shark Cruising

ow and only a certain number of boats are licensed to operate tours during this period.

In the Water with a Whale Shark

Once you get out to the location of the whale sharks the captain and guide tell you to get ready. This means getting on your snorkel and fins ready to jump in the water. No time for fear or hesitation. If you are not ready forget about it, you missed that round. You literally jump in the water close to a whale shark. The guide takes you towards the big fish while the boat circles around to pick you up. In the boat the other tourists are rea

Sam Snorkels

dying to jump in immediately after you are onboard.

It sounds hectic because it is. In the water this day were about 25 fish. Sometimes there are 50+ and others still there are also the big manta rays. These beautiful creatures also feed on the plankton and krill in abundance here during this time. There are also 20-40 tour boats all positioning to get their tourists into the water to experience this once in a lifetime adventure.

Bye Bye Whale Shark

The captain and the guide will let you get in the water 3-5 times depending on the crowds before heading back. In case you are wondering there are rules. Rules you must follow.

When you have completed swimming with these gentle giants you will boat back to Playa Norte for some ceviche and a swim in a small reef there. Playa Norte is rated one of the top 10 beaches in the world. The reef boasts a few fish and is always packed with tourists feeding the fish. However, you have a boat, swim in the white sand bottomed water, drink cervesa and eat your ceviche before returning to dock.

At the end of the day I was completely exhausted and overwhelmed with how (expletive) cool the experience was. As the days after unwound I realized I was so effected by the

Whale Shark Tattoo

experience that I got myself a tattoo to commemorate it.

If you want a once in a life time experience that pits you in the open ocean with giant sharks then you need to be in Mexico in the summer of 2018.

There is a place at Akumal Beach that provides a great home base when you are driven to snorkel at reef at Akumal Beach, the Akumal Dive Shop. A friendly, quaint little shop that introduces professionals and newbies alike to the magnificence of the reef just meters offshore.

The dive shop here provides everything you could possibly need. Be sure to call and schedule your outing ahead; Stay in a nearby hotel and arrive 15 minutes ahead of time and you will get the full service. The guides, equipment, cameras, life vests (which must be worn to venture with the guide beyond the sea grass) as well as lockers to store your dry gear. You are teamed with a group of six and out you go.

During the outing the guides point out the life underwater. You can see an assortment of wild life swimming around the reef. That first trip we encountered 2 different schools of fish, barracuda, lobster, spotted eagle rays and some stingrays. Of course the main attraction was also hanging around enjoying the sea grass, the turtles.

Finding a great dive shop is important when you are going out. You want to feel confident and secure. The water is dangerous and being prepared is your best safety preparation.